More than a century ago…

 Cimon went to random villages as if he was sleepwalking. But that was a given since the god of sleep loves to sleep. He rarely helps those in need. Cimon never liked mingling with human problems. But sometimes, he will grant any prayers he hears just so people will stop bothering him.

One day, when Cimon heard the prince consistently praying to him for a good sleep, he eventually came to his aid.

“Dear god of sleep, I beg you to grant me enough rest so I can still be well to serve my people. I know I’ve been asking you this every night. But I must—”

“So you are aware that you’re being a nuisance,” Cimon said when he appeared behind the kneeling prince.

He was shocked to hear the voice of the god that the prince could only stare and not stand properly to greet him.

It was then that Cimon saw the appearance of the prince.

“So what was ailing you? Why can you not sleep on your own?” the god asked while scratching the back of his head. He later on regret asking that question.

“I… I…”

“What? I may be an immortal but I don’t like wasting my time with a human.”

“I wish to… be married.”

“You could not sleep because you wish to be married?” the god asked incredulously.

“Y-ye… Yes!” the prince said while trying to sound brave yet polite. He knew how immortals can easily be offended. And while looking at the god of sleep he knew he was not just offended but irritated.

“You should have prayed for the goddess instead.”

“I did. Several times. But no goddess will help me.”

“Did they say that after seeing you? Or you just assumed?”

“Please… I’m begging you, dear god. Help me.”

The prince looks hideous and no one would like to marry him because of the curse given to him. But he knew he must marry someday because he needed an heir for his kingdom. Later on, the god of sleep helped the prince court his chosen wife.

“Choose a wife,” the god commanded.

“Choose a—now?” the prince asked while looking shocked.

“Do you want to have a peace of mind and eventually sleep or not?”

“I do. I do!” the prince said eagerly. “But who do I choose?”

“It does not matter to me who it is. Just pick one,” the god of sleep said while sounding tired.

And so, the prince did choose someone. But whenever the prince would visit his wife, the woman would fall asleep. Despite not knowing what the prince looks like, the wife falls in love with her husband. And that made the goddess of desire angry. The goddess of desire was the one who cursed the prince, for he had insulted her before. Cimon needed to hide to avoid arguing with the goddess of desire. For decades, it was like Cimon and Dominique were playing hide and seek. But Cimon could no longer take it so he seeks her help.

“Can you help me?”

“It was nice seeing you, too, Cimon,” Aia said softly while being sarcastic for the god just appeared in her backyard without even greeting her.

“Since when did we have to greet each other before saying what we came for? That’s just a waste of time and very… human.”

Aia noted how Cimon holds himself back to offend her since he came to ask for a favor.

Like Aia, Cimon does not want to be disturbed. He prefers to be alone and sleep for as long as he likes. But they had a deal. Aia promised to help Cimon explain to Dominique, the goddess of desire, what had transpired. Aia will state the truth that Cimon never intended to matchmake anyone. And that he did not dare try to imitate the specialty of Dominique.

Her words are enough to convince anyone. For the goddess of truth never lies.

Once the deal was done, Cimon will put Aia to an eternal sleep. Since a deal, or a promise, is something immortals will not dare to break, Aia still hope for Cimon to arrive.

But another god came instead.